Budget: $800-1500
Size requirement: none
Room size: 14x20x9, but since it is bonus room above garage, the ceiling is sloped on both sides. Approx cu ft is 2400.

Primary use: dedicated home theater room. Mostly movies. Some music from paladia music channel, but I am most interested in a loud tight theater.

Listening habits: reference level if it is a good action flick. Usually loud. I can't help myself.

Appearance: none
Time: none

I use my room wide instead of long. The only place I get a decent bass response on both sides of couch (main listening area) is for the sub to be placed directly behind couch.... Found location by sub crawl. I can close off my room completely. I feel I am missing some lower end freq and slam with current sub (pa120) and time for upgrade. I've been considering an svs pb2000, 2x pb2000, hsu vtf15, psa15, psa30, rythmic fv15hp, svs pb12+, etc. I want bone shaking, chest slamming feel in my room, and open to consider any listed above or other. I want to feel the air move and stuff to rattle. Any suggestions? I'll continue to read other posts for guidance, but any specific advice is much appreciated!

That said:
- Dual SVS PB-2000s @ $1,499, shipped, should do the trick. (If they don't, return them within 45 days and the in-home demo costs you $0.)
- If you can go a bit over budget, dual PSA XV15se's @ $1,699, shipped, should work even better.

I would go with a PSA XV30se or Rythmik FV15HP. If you have room for duals then a Pair of XV15se could work very well in that room(but slightly over budget).. However I would not go with a single sealed sub. If you can only do 1 sub definitely go ported, if you can go with atleast 2 subs, sealed should be fun and work well. That being said I do not think there is any pair of sealed commercial subs that will net you clean reference playback in your stated budget....atleast not below 30hz.

Another option is DIY. It has never been easier...plenty of sources on these forums offering precut flatpacks. You can source drivers from PE(parts express) such as the Dayton Ultimax, RS390, or Eminence Lab15 and build some killer subs. Power them with a Inuke 3/6000dsp and you will have a mega bass system that will play reference down to 15hz fairly easily.

That said:
- Dual SVS PB-2000s @ $1,499, shipped, should do the trick. (If they don't, return them within 45 days and the in-home demo costs you $0.)
- If you can go a bit over budget, dual PSA XV15se's @ $1,699, shipped, should work even better.

I believe PSA is now offering a 45 day in home demo fwiw.

Last edited by basshead81; 06-21-2014 at 09:25 AM.
Reason: typing from a N3 can be a pain in the arse!!

Elijay and basshead, thx for the quick replies and suggestions! I had not considered DIY, although I am fairly handy and should maybe look into it. Always seemed like more trouble than it was worth, and was worried about creating something that was a big bloated boom box vs something that was a finely tuned machine created by folks/engineers who had proven products out on the market.

So, are 2 psa xv15se generally considered better than 2 svs pb2000 for my application? And, would 2 xv15se be better than 1 psa xv30se or 1 rhythmic fv15hp? I don't mind giving up floor space if duals are significantly better, but only needing to consider placement of one sub seems significantly easier than two, so would want clearly better performance.
One other question.... How do dual outlaw lfm1ex compare to dual pb2000 or xv15se?

Start with one Rythmik FV15HP. I can see you ending up with two of these down the road based on your post. I think this would be the best long term solution. One will rock your room quite well, two will solve upgradeitis when it hits and be a good, long term solution for clean reference level output.

i have 2 PSA xv15's and more ft^3 than you do. you would not be disappointed at all. you may even consider the sealed version in your room if you go duals (xs15). trust me, you wouldn't be disappointed in any PSA offering, and tom is one of the best people to work with because he really knows his stuff...and the customer service is hands down fantastic.

Elijay and basshead, thx for the quick replies and suggestions! I had not considered DIY, although I am fairly handy and should maybe look into it. Always seemed like more trouble than it was worth, and was worried about creating something that was a big bloated boom box vs something that was a finely tuned machine created by folks/engineers who had proven products out on the market.

.

DIY designs here like the Marty sub series have been well designed and tested (in the sense of successfully being built by many rather than something like the data-bass.com type testing). The extent and quality of the box construction is up to you but there's lots of information here.

By the way while the 818 doesn't have SubEQ it does eq subs just fine, it just can't set two subs' different level/distance automatically (so with single sub doesn't come into play at all).

B0dyK0unt: Your room falls into the medium size category (under 3,000 cu. ft.). A single FV15HP should have no problem blasting that room. Neither would an XS30se for that matter, or anything else mentioned here. I have the original XS30 in a large size room (around 3,400 cu. ft.) and have no problems shaking the walls, floors, seats and myself. Two may be required if you have problems with nulls at your seating position. If not, one should do fine.

All great feedback. I really do appreciate it, all of you! Sounds like there is very good potential I can be satisfied with a single fv15hp or dual xv15se's (or sealed xs15's).

Enricoclaudio... Do you happen to have a pic of the corner blemish? Or if not, can you let me know how big/bad it is? If I choose that route, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish if it's a real eye sore.

Still deciding between to two options that appear to be in the lead - 1 fv15hp or 2 xv15se.

All great feedback. I really do appreciate it, all of you! Sounds like there is very good potential I can be satisfied with a single fv15hp or dual xv15se's (or sealed xs15's).

Enricoclaudio... Do you happen to have a pic of the corner blemish? Or if not, can you let me know how big/bad it is? If I choose that route, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish if it's a real eye sore.

Still deciding between to two options that appear to be in the lead - 1 fv15hp or 2 xv15se.

From PSA, in this room size I would lean toward dual XS15se. I'd expect extension into the single digits with a good amount of headroom(dual XS15se = the $9000 paradigm sub 2 in Josh's testing for example). Also, going with duals (over a single XS30se for example)is almost sure to offer audible benefits in regards to bass smoothing at the seats. Also, our sealed XS15se will mirror the room transfer function here really well which helps the overall SQ as well. Really, either way you go you are getting high quality bass, the 15hp is a real monster.

PS---we're offering free shipping both ways on the XS15se and XV15se now so you can audition them in your home for 30 days risk free.

All great feedback. I really do appreciate it, all of you! Sounds like there is very good potential I can be satisfied with a single fv15hp or dual xv15se's (or sealed xs15's).

Enricoclaudio... Do you happen to have a pic of the corner blemish? Or if not, can you let me know how big/bad it is? If I choose that route, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish if it's a real eye sore.

Still deciding between to two options that appear to be in the lead - 1 fv15hp or 2 xv15se.

I don't have a pic but I can ask Brian for it. Also know that full warranty apply to all b-stock units.

From PSA, in this room size I would lean toward dual XS15se. I'd expect extension into the single digits with a good amount of headroom(dual XS15se = the $9000 paradigm sub 2 in Josh's testing for example). Also, going with duals (over a single XS30se for example)is almost sure to offer audible benefits in regards to bass smoothing at the seats. Also, our sealed XS15se will mirror the room transfer function here really well which helps the overall SQ as well. Really, either way you go you are getting high quality bass, the 15hp is a real monster.

PS---we're offering free shipping both ways on the XS15se and XV15se now so you can audition them in your home for 30 days risk free.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

Tom,

Very classy giving credit to the FV15HP. Your a frequent poster on the forum and I like that. Always willing to help other members out even if they don't own your subs nor are looking to buy your subs. Very admirable and this speaks volumes about your company.

^^ Yep, I was a little taken aback when I read tvuong's statement, although I don't think he meant it to sound as negative as it did. The OP stated his favorite two options from the list he created were the Rythmik and PSA and he was undecided. It is neither a PSA- or Rythmik-specific thread, so if the owners / representatives want to come aboard and clarify something to the OP about their products, I'm a huge fan of this. Both Rythmik and PSA did just that and both have great reputations. The point tvuong may have missed is that Tom gave high praise to Rythmik (a clear competitor). This is a great indication about what type of person Tom is. Of course, everyone who has had any dealings with Tom and PSA already knows this.

It's good to see all the feedback, and as the OP, I certainly think I took Tom in the correct context.... If I am going psa, I should consider dual sealed vs the ported based on my application (tom's the expert, and I'd be foolish not to consider sealed vs the ported which, to be honest, I had not up until now), and if I consider the rythmik, then that is not a bad choice either. Seems like he's someone who would like to move his own product (who can blame him), but isn't going to mislead on other solid choices. Standup guy.

As for the rythmik, I am still curious if I could get more scoop on the "blemish" b-stock. Is it a new sub but just a manufacturer defect, or is it used/returned? I'm not an expert at these forums, but I'd be happy to provide an email if enricoclaudio and those that control this forum think that discussion is better taken off of this forum. I don't want to break any rules.

Tom, specific to you... I honestly do appreciate the direct interaction you have on this topic, and psa still in the running on my decision. I have to say my first reaction to the sealed vs ported psa15 was "am I going to feel the sealed as much as the ported?" I really do want the feeeeel of a sub at the low end and whatever frequencies make your chest feel like something is thumping it... Know what I mean? Your ported 15 wouldn't perform as well as the sealed in your opinion?

As for the rythmik, I am still curious if I could get more scoop on the "blemish" b-stock. Is it a new sub but just a manufacturer defect, or is it used/returned? I'm not an expert at these forums, but I'd be happy to provide an email if enricoclaudio and those that control this forum think that discussion is better taken off of this forum. I don't want to break any rules.

It's a brand new unit, not used, not returned. The blemish happened during the assembling process. I'll get the pic to you no later than tomorrow.

I have to say my first reaction to the sealed vs ported psa15 was "am I going to feel the sealed as much as the ported?" I really do want the feeeeel of a sub at the low end and whatever frequencies make your chest feel like something is thumping it... Know what I mean? Your ported 15 wouldn't perform as well as the sealed in your opinion?

Really, it comes down to one question----how much headroom will you need? If the dual XS15se meet your headroom requirements that is the way to go for two and possibly three reasons.

1)Less expensive ($1499 versus $1699)
2)Deeper extension
3)Smaller

You mention reference levels. With all speakers set to small this can require 115-121dB from the subwoofer(s). Can dual XS15se offer this output? Yes, but not down to 7-11hz. I'd say 22-25hz is a very safe bet. But 15-20hz may be limited to the 112-115dB range.

Dual XV15se would be fine at full reference levels down to the 16-18hz range but they wouldn't extend as deep as the XS15se.

For me, the deciding factor may come down to your bass channel calibration. If you prefer to have the bass a bit on the hot side (3-5dB over the rest of the channels) go with the XV15se combo..